Hydrangea plant named ‘DOLKIS’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Hydrangea  cultivar named ‘DOLKIS’ is disclosed, characterized by lacecap panicles having large white petals with pink margins and distinctive coloration to the young foliage of brown tinged with green. Flowers appear earlier than most  Hydrangea macrophylla  varieties, and the plant shape is rounded with good branching and moderate vigor. The new variety is a  Hydrangea , normally produced as an ornamental plant for containers or gardens.

Latin name of the genus and species: Hydrangea hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘DOLKIS’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar was discovered as a result of a planned breedingprogram directed by the inventor, Marie-France Doll a citizen of France.Seed was bulk collected in 2001 from unpatented, unnamed plants ofHydrangea serrata and Hydrangea macrophylla and subsequently planted.Due to the bulk seed collection, exact parents are unknown. The newvariety was discovered as a seedling in 2004, by the inventor in a noncommercial outdoor production area in La Foret Fouesnant, France.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DOLKIS’ by vegetative cuttingswas first performed in 2004, at a research nursery in Angers, France.‘DOLKIS’ was first commercially available in 2010. Multiple generationshave since been produced and have shown that the unique features of thiscultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DOLKIS’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DOLKIS’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DOLKIS’ as a new and distinct Hydrangeacultivar:

-   -   1. Lacecap panicles with large white petals with pink margins    -   2. Brown young foliage tinged with green    -   3. Early blossoming in the Hydrangea macrophylla group    -   4. Rounded shape plant and good branching    -   5. Moderate vigor    -   6. Darker foliage color in the Fall

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘DOLKIS’ can be compared to the commercial variety Hydrangea serrata‘Kiyosumi’ unpatented. The two varieties are similar in mosthorticultural characteristics however, plants of ‘DOLKIS’ have stronger,thicker branches and flowers that last longer on the plant.Additionally, ‘DOLKIS’ has larger petals.

The new variety can also be compared to the commercial variety Hydrangeamacrophylla, ‘Love You Kiss’, unpatented. Hydrangea ‘DOLKIS’ andHydrangea ‘Love You Kiss’ are similar in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of ‘DOLKIS’ are less vigorous, butproduce more branches and a denser plant. Additionally, ‘Dolkis’ producesterile flowers per inflorescence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘DOLKIS’ grown in a outdoors, in Angers, France, in acommercial 3 liter container. Age of the plant photographed isapproximately 2 years. The photograph was taken using conventionaltechniques and although colors may appear different from actual colorsdue to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventionalphotographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘DOLKIS’ plants grown outdoors, in Angers,France. The growing temperature ranged from approximately 10° C. to 35°C. daytime and 5° to 15° C. at night. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plant types. Measurements were takenduring the Fall.

-   Botanical classification: Hydrangea hybrid ‘DOLKIS’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: Approximately 3 weeks at approximately 20°    C.-   Root description: Fine, fibrous.-   Root color: Near RHS White 155A.-   Propagation method: Vegetative cuttings.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: 24 months.-   Growth habit: Flowering perennial shrub. Round, well branched.-   Height: Approximately 60 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 55 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Branching characteristics: Very good free branching.-   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 20 cm.-   Number of lateral branches: Approximately 15.-   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 1 cm.-   Lateral branch shape: Round.-   Lateral branch strength: Moderate.-   Lateral branch color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B slightly tinged at    the nodes with RHS Greyed-Purple 183A.-   Other stem or plant characteristics: Stems densely covered with    lenticels.    -   -   Lenticel length.—Approximately 0.75 to 1.25 cm.        -   Lenticel width.—Approximately 0.5 to 0.1 cm.        -   Lenticel color.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple 183 A.-   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 10.-   Age of plant described: 24 months Approximately.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Compound or single.—Single.        -   Average length.—Approximately 13 to 14 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 6 to 7 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Ovate to elliptic oblong.        -   Apex.—Acute to long-tapering.        -   Base.—Asymmetric to very lightly asymmetric.        -   Attachment.—Petiole attached to leaf lamina.        -   Margin.—Serrate, approximately 1.5 to 2 teeth per cm.        -   Texture and appearance of top surface.—Moderately glossy,            non-pubescent.        -   Texture and appearance of bottom surface.—Matte,            non-pubescent.        -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 4 to 5 cm.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Brown 200A and            200B, both colors present tinged with Yellow-Green 146D.            Young foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146 C tinged            with Brown 200C. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 146A, 146B, 146C, all colors present            individually. Mature foliage under side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 146B.        -   Venation.—Type: arcuate to pinnate. Venation color upper            side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145C. Venation color under side:            Near Yellow-Green 145C.        -   Durability of foliage to stresses.—Good resistance to            physical stress.-   Petiole:    -   -   Average length.—Approximately 1.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 to 0.4 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 146D, slightly tinged at the            nodes Greyed-Purple 184A.

FLOWER

-   Bloom period:    -   -   Natural season.—Continuous June through August.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Arrangement.—Single, sterile and fertile flowers arranged in            terminal lacecap type panicles.        -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—Fertile flowers, 200            approximately. Sterile Flowers, 10 to 15 approximately.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Persistent.        -   Fragrance.—No.-   Sterile flower:    -   -   Diameter of entire flower.—Approximately 5.5 cm.        -   Depth of flower.—Approximately 1 cm.-   Petals:    -   -   Length of petal.—Approximately 2.7 cm.        -   Width of petal.—Approximately 1.3 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Shape of petal.—Broadly deltoid.        -   Petal margin.—Slightly serrate.        -   Petal arrangement.—Rotate, slightly overlapping.        -   Petal number.—4 to 5.        -   Petals fused.—No.        -   Petal texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near RHS Green-White            157D with margin near Red 51A. Upper surface at maturity:            Near RHS White 155B with margin near Red 51A. Upper surface            at fading: Near RHS Red-Purple 65D. Under surface at first            opening: Near RHS Green-White 157D with margin near Red 51A.            Under surface at maturity: Near RHS White 155B with margin            near Red 51B. Under surface at fading: Near RHS White 155B            with margin near Red 51B. No Petaloids present.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.-   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: Semi-hardy perennial, tolerant    of some high temperatures. Upper limit of temperature tolerance has    not been observed, however, known to tolerate temperatures of at    least up to 40° C. Lower limits have also not been observed,    however, observed hardy to −15° C. No drought tolerance has been    observed.-   Fruit/seed production: No fruits/seeds detected to date.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘DOLKIS’ asherein illustrated and described.